Santa Maria Valley: Where Wine and BBQ Reign Supreme

The Santa Maria Valley, just north of Santa Barbara, is known for two things – beef (Santa Maria style barbecue to be exact) and wine – such a delicious combination. And I recently spent a few days there to find the best of the best of each.

First, I’ll tell you that this is one of the most spectacular solo drives through California. Driving the 101 north through the Santa Lucia Mountains is simply stunning. My trip took a bit longer than planned because I kept stopping to take pictures of the amazing landscape.

I’m a Texas girl so I was surprised to find that many consider Santa Maria Valley to be the barbecue capital of the West. When I think about what makes the California coast iconic, I think about wine. And surfing. Or drinking wine while watching surfers. But I never thought of the region for beef, or barbecue. Turns out, Santa Maria style barbecue is quite a secret and only those who dare to explore this region will discover it.

The history of Santa Maria style barbecue

Tri-tip steaks are the cornerstone of Santa Maria style barbecue. The tri-tip is bottom sirloin, cut into a triangular shape. Not surprisingly, it was cowboys who actually came up with this culinary creation while working the ranchland in the mid 1800s. They’d sit around the campfire and hang their cuts of beef over the open flame. The meat is unseasoned and the native red oak is what flavors the beef. Today, many restaurants feature open pit grills – or Santa Maria grills – where guests can watch the process. And just as the cowboys did, most restaurants serve every Santa Maria style barbecue dish with pinquito beans and salsa.Rumor has it that President Ronald Reagan, who owned land in the area, would bring seasoned Santa Maria style barbecue chefs to the White House to satisfy his craving. You can read more about the history of Santa Maria style barbecue here: https://santamariavalley.com/a-brief-history-of-santa-maria-style-barbecue/.

Where to eat Santa Maria style barbecue

Far Western TavernThe Far Western Tavern has strong roots in the Santa Maria Valley serving contemporary California ranch cuisine. The restaurant was established in 1958 and has passed through three generations of the Minetti family and recently made the move from its origin in Guadalupe to Orcutt. Recognizing that the restaurant was famously recognized for its interior furnishings, the owners took great pains to preserve many of the establishment’s iconic features and incorporate them into the new space. The signature antique mahogany bar, antique gas ceiling lamps, stained glass panels and mounted animals all made their way to the new restaurant. A large mural painted by legendary Western artist Ernie Morris was also preserved to hang in the new dining room, as well as other pieces of Western art.

Far Western Tavern is white tablecloth fine dining with that California ranch feel and a menu that is divine. You can make an entire meal on the appetizers with hearty selections like Mac N’ Cheese Relleno, Filet Mignon Carpaccio and Prosciutto Wrapped Jalapeños. The 8 oz. Oak Grilled Tri-Tip is the menu’s featured selection, served with corn & pinquito bean salsa, garlic mashed potatoes, shishito peppers, and avocado verde sauce. I opted for the Stout Braised Short Ribs with creamy herbed polenta, baby romanesco, and crispy onions, and it did not disappoint.

Moxie CafeThis place is where comfy cowboy fare meets healthy. Jay Hardy, owner of Hardy Diagnostics, a nearby biomedical manufacturing company, wanted a healthy place nearby for this employees to eat. So he solved the problem himself by creating the concept for and opening Moxie Cafe. The restaurant prepares wholesome meals using fresh ingredients with no preservatives, no MSG, no trans fats, and reduced sugar. It’s a favorite among employees but locals as well for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

The menu favorite is the classic Santa Maria Sandwich made with Angus tri-tip cut of beef, with cheddar cheese, roasted red onions, and hardwood smoked honey-cured bacon. And yes, it’s healthily prepared. For an even healthier twist, there’s the Roasted Veggie Sandwich with eggplant, red bell pepper, zucchini, oven roasted tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, and a cilantro-jalapeno aioli. Or you could just opt for a plate of the sides, like Mashed Sweet Potatoes and Mashed Red Potatoes with Roasted Garlic and Gravy. They’re both homey and memorable.

Rooney’s Irish PubYou might be surprised to find an Irish pub in cowboy country but it’s the perfect complement to the rustic fare found in the Santa Maria Valley. But the owners wanted to bring their love for Ireland, its people, countryside, and “craic,” to residents of visitors of the region.

Rooney’s is a fine dining gastropub with classic Irish dishes like Bangers & Mash, Corned beef, and Fish & chips. “The Lost” shepherds pie with Guiness-braised Angus short rib, celery and carrots atop creamy cheddar-chive mashed potatoes is a must try. And what would an Irish pub be without beer? Rooney’s brews a number of its own ales – Ambers, Blondes, Porters, and IPAs, and also serves a selection of other craft brews.

Shaws SteakhouseShaws is one of the original family steakhouses, opened in 1953. You can watch the chef prepare your meal on an open flame grill that dates back to the 19th century. The interior conjures up traditional steakhouse visions – lots of dark wood, brass, and walls lined with western-inspired photos. My childhood memories of family steakhouses were triggered as the waitress set baskets of packaged crackers with butter in front of me, along with a relish tray of sliced fresh vegetables and a bowl of salsa.

Shaws is a meat eaters paradise. The menu offers a wide range of oak pit barbecue preparations including tri-tip, filet mignon, rib eye, top sirloin, ribs and more. There’s also a selection of fish preparations in addition to oak-grilled sweetbreads and linguiça sausage.